Fifty-four players who played in the major leagues in 1930 eventually earned induction into the Hall of Fame, according to the New York Times. In 1970, 37 active players ended up in Cooperstown. In 1950, there were 30.

How about 2013? If the likes of Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg continue to make good on their potential, we could be watching well more than 30 future Hall of Famers this season.

But what if we count only the players who already have secured a place in the Hall? That number, of course, is much smaller. In fact, I came up with only six active players whom I would deem Cooperstown certainties if they never played another game.

Three of them play on the same team:

Derek Jeter

He not only should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, he could be the first player to be voted in unanimously. That’s not likely because no player ever has received 100 percent of the votes and someone figures to leave off Jeter just to make certain he doesn’t become the first.

But no player has a better case to be unanimous. Jeter is a winner, long ago conquered the pressure pot of New York, has put up worthy numbers — he’s 11th all-time with 3,304 hits — and his character, integrity and sportsmanship have been an asset since he first put on pinstripes.

Mariano Rivera

Like Jeter, Rivera also has credentials to be a unanimous inductee. But besides the “he can’t be first” argument, Rivera also faces the stigma of being “just” a reliever.

Rivera, however, still should threaten Tom Seaver’s record voting percentage of 98.8. The main reason: The Yankees’ closer is the greatest postseason pitcher of all time. He also is the all-time saves leader and his 2.21 ERA is 13th best in history, according to baseball-reference.com

Albert Pujols

Two feats make him an easy call:

Pujols is the only player in history to hit .300 with 30 homers and 100 RBIs in each of his first 10 seasons (He also had a .400 OBP in nine of those years, with .394 in his second season the lone exception).

In his first 10 seasons, he won three MVPs and finished second four times. Twice, he was runner-up to steroids suspect Barry Bonds. Until a 17th-place finish in 2012, Pujols never had finished outside of the top 10 in MVP voting.

As you’d expect, his numbers are just as impressive. He’s the active leader with a .325 batting average, He is the active leader with a .325 batting average and .608 slugging percentage, is 25 homers short of 500 and has scored 100 runs in 10 of his 12 seasons.

Ichiro Suzuki

One claim makes him worthy: Suzuki is the only player in history to top 200 hits in each of his first 10 seasons. No other player, in fact, ever has put together more than eight consecutive 200-hit campaigns.

Suzuki, 39, has plenty more on his resume. He has won two batting titles, has a .322 career average, owns the modern era single-season hits record (262 in 2004), has won 10 Gold Gloves, made 10 All-Star teams and is one of two players to ever win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.

Jim Thome

His career average is .276, he’s spent much of his career as a DH and he’s never finished higher than fourth in MVP voting. But Thome’s power makes him an easy call. He is seventh all-time with 612 homers and unlike two players ahead of him, has never been connected to steroids use.

Thome, 42, entered the off-season unsure if he wanted to play in 2013 but since has indicated he wants another season. He hasn’t found the right deal yet, though.

Miguel Cabrera

To say the Tigers slugger already is a certain Hall of Famer might be a reach. Cabrera just met the 10-year eligibility minimum so career totals such as 321 homers don’t measure up to Cooperstown standards.

But Cabrera has one feat in his favor. He is one of only 12 players since 1900 to win a Triple Crown and all the others have been inducted.

Cabrera also has won two batting titles, two home run crowns and twice led his league in RBIs. He also is only 29 and should have a lot of years to remove whatever doubt there might be over his qualifications.

Three on the right track

1. CC Sabathia. Don’t tell him that 300 wins is a milestone that won’t be reached again. Sabathia has 191 and is only 32. Playing for the winningest team in the game doesn’t hurt his chances, either.

2. Justin Verlander. He often has stated that he wants to be considered one of the greatest ever. A few more years like the past two and he will be. Over his seven full seasons, Verlander has won fewer than 17 games only once. He also has led the AL in innings and strikeouts three times and owns a 3.40 career ERA.

3. Joe Mauer. He’s the only catcher to win three batting titles and he’s also won four Gold Gloves and an MVP.